Teaching that promotes learning: 5 Learning Centered Teaching Principles

Thesis: In order for teaching to more effectively promote learning, instructional practice needs to change in five areas.

1. The function of content
• Currently: faculty cover content with the goal of building strong knowledge foundations.
• The change: content should be used to build a knowledge AND to develop learning skills and learner self awareness.
• Examples: approaches that do not separate learning strategies from content.
• Implication: teachers cover less, but students learn more.
2. The role of the teacher
• Currently: most instructional practice still features teacher action.
• The change: instructional action should focus on student learning.
• Examples: approaches that overcome the propensity to tell.
• Implication: facilitative roles are more difficult and no less central in student learning experiences.
3. The responsibility for learning
• Currently: faculty "force" learning on reluctant participants.
• The change: with students, faculty create learning environments that motivate students to accept responsibility for learning.
• Examples: activities to create constructive classroom climates and let there be logical consequences.
• Implication: as students grow more autonomous, they need teachers less.
4. The processes and purposes of evaluation
• Currently: evaluation activities are grade-oriented and completed exclusively by teachers.
• The change: evaluations should also be used to promote learning and to develop self and peer assessment skills.
• Examples: ways to use self and peer assessment
• Implication: accurate self and peer assessment results in fewer arguments over grades.
5. The balance of power
   • Currently: faculty make key decisions about learning for students.
   • The change: in ethically responsible ways, faculty share decision making about learning with students.
   • Examples: assignment choices and policy setting.
   • Implication: teachers control less, but students are involved more.

Content from: Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice by Maryellen Weimer. Available from Jossey-Bass, 250 pages, $33.00. To order online, www.jbp.com.

Last updated on: February 24, 2005